Stacker



Sept. 29, 1931. A. l.. MILLIGAN STACKER Filed sept. 12. 1929 s snets -sneet 1 llll @mmm a Sept. 29, 1931.

A. L. MILLIGAN Filed Sept. l2, 1929 TACKER .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 29, 1931. A. MILLIGAN STACKER Filed Sept. l2, 1929 3 Sheets-S1166?l 3 f f. a.; i 5% 2 a j n! SM /Wwj Mr y w latented Sept.

i UNITED vs'rr'is ABNER LEMUEL MILLIGAN, or ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AssIenonl 'Tof AMERICAN sLIcING j MACHINE co., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A conroitATIonon NEWYORK srAcxiin Application led September 12,1929. Seria1rNoQ39L992.

. My invention relates to a slice feedingor stacking device and has for one purpose the provision of such a device for employment `with a slicing machine.- :One object is the provision o'f such a device for use with fa slicing machine havingA a rotary knife and a reciprocable carriage upon which thematerial to be sliced may be conveyed-across the face andV past the cutting edge of the knife. Anotherobject isl the provision of means for feeding or maintaining-or stacking the slices in vertical position. Another object is the provision of feeding means for such slices, which means shall be responsive to the actuation of the carriage. Another object is the provision of a feeding means which shall be out of the line of delivery of the slice, orto the rear of the slice, when the slice is actually being severed. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, whereinn f Figure l is a plan view;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation;

Figure 3 is a section onthe line 3 3 of Figure 2; i

Figure 4 is a sectionon the line 4.-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, of a modified form;r

Figure 6 is a sectionon theline {5-#Slot` Figure 5; and A 4 Y Figure 7 is a partial plan view of the form of the device shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Like parts are vindicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings. Referring first to Figures l to et, A generally indicates any suitable base being provided, for example, with the ground or counter engaging membersk A1. v' j Mounted on the base in any suitable manner is the rotary knife B which may ,be driven' forexamplefby the electric motor B1, through the pulley B2, the beltB3 and the knife pulley B4. l.

C, C1, indicate tracks, C being'a support- -ing track upon which is mounted reciprocation theV carriage structure generally-indiofthe carriageV C2.

cated 'Ihe carriage structure VCzrinay .if

include a V-shaped trough C3, uponA which the work to be ,sliced may be positioned.

While I do lnot-wishtolbe limited in the .andgauge plates lyingpreferably -in generally/parallel planes, their planes being also in general parallelism with the tracks C and .C1 and .therefore with the path of movement ofthe Ycarriage C2.,v Note thatthe forward edge vof the-carriageC2 is closely adjacent the face'of the guard plate D and that the gaugeV plate D1 f beY l withdrawn therefrom, as for example by rotation of the knob D2, in order to gauge the thickness of the slice.

Positioned to the rear ofthe knife B is the slice receiving trough generally indicated as E; This trough is herein shown asy .V-shaped in cross-section, conforming generally to the'v cross-'section of the trough C3 Preferably the two troughs are'of generally like-cross` section,

although this isnotunderall circumstances necessary. j n The trough E may be provided with any suitablefollower or limit block generally indicatedas El which may slide for example v in grooves E?, through which pass the. studs or guides v E3 associatedwith the block. In

theV V-,trough the'guiding slots and studs Vmay under `some circumstances be Ydispensed with, but with other formsA of receivingl member, for example with a flat-receiving .me`mber, such guides are preferable,'if not essential. c Referring to Figure 4,V I may mount the .trough E upon anysuitable foot yor support E4 with its'base E5 whichliii .turn may rest uponv the base of the machine A, as shown in Figure 2; It may ifl desired be adjustable thereupon as for example byA use of the bolts E6 in the Vslot E7, andthe wing nutsrv E3. Itwill 'be seen. from reference to Figure l that ythe heads or studs E3 ymay pass through apertures `E9 in the top,

fcutting stroke.

its inclined surface G engages the roller G4,

of the base E4, whereby the base Ejc does not interfere with the movement of the block El.

G generally indicates a pivot, herein shown as vertical, mounted on the trough E.' Pivoted thereto intermediate its endsV is the lever G1 to one end of which, as at G2 is pivoted the slice engaging member G3.

yThe other end maybe provided for example Vwith a rolleror any other suitable antifriction member Gt. This roller is adapted to engage thecam member G5 with its forward inclined surface G6, the cam member being mounted on the carriage G2. A tenrection of the reciprocating carriage G2, H3

indicates a collar'or washer pin on the shaft H and adapted-to'limit its movement toward the carriage.' H4 isV anyV suitable roller or anti-friction device on the collar adapted to engage the cam surface H5 mounted on or associated withthe carriage C2. Extending upwardly from the rod is the pivot element H6 upon which is pivoted the slice engaging member YH7. The carriage is slotted as at H8 to permit the passage therethrough of the member HG. This also serves to hold the rod in alignment, the rod being associated with or secured to the shaft H.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without `departing from the spirit of my invention. I thereyfore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to the track, referring to Figure 1,' and that it is moved to the ,right end of the track, to its full line position, ,for the initiation of the The cam member vG5 with and moves the lever G1 into its full line position, with the member G3 closely hugging f the rear of the knife. The parts are preferably so proportionedthat the member G3 is heldin this withdrawn position until the carriage, on its return Vor cutting stroke, has

passed so far .to the left as to permit the slice to be severed. The slice in course of severance will therefore pass to therear of the member G3, as shown in Figure l, and will drop into the trough E. Then, as the slice drops, or immediately thereafter, the `roller kG4 is able to override the inclined surface the cam G5, and the spring G7 then moves the lever Gl `into dotted line position, with the result that the slice is moved Vrearwardly toward the block El. As the slices accumulate the 'pressure of the lever G1 and the member G3 is suficient to move the accumulated slices and the'hlock to the rear, and the entire group of slices is therefore maintained in a stack, the stack being horizontal, the individual slices being in vertical position. It is yan advantage of the V-trough that as the slices drop into it they engage the opposite sides of the trough in two-point support and the trough therefore has a sustaining or supporting effect andthe slice'does not tend to fall over or at least is delayed in falling. The flipping action comes rapidly enough to `press the slice against the other slices before it has a chance to drop. As long as the slice is supported at its upper corners by Contact with the opposite sides of the troughs it is dniicult for it to fall over and in practice the tier or group of slices maintain their vertical E15 to move the member H7 into the inopera- 310 tive position in which it is shown in Figure 7. The Vcam surface H5 is so proportioned and positioned that when the carriage C2 is moved past the cutting edge of the knifeF and the slice .has 4been severed and has dropped, then the roller H4 engages the surface H5 and the member H7 is thereby moved against the slice, and pushes the slice into position against the follower block orf the Lslices preceding the severing.

Because of the variations Vin length lor width of the bread it may be desirable Vtdacljust the position of the trough E2. I have therefore provided the adjustment illus- "5 trated in Figure 4 and already described. I claim: Y l. In combination with a slicing machine, including a rot-ary knife and means for rotating it, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the knife, a slice receiver, positioned on the side of the knife opposite to the carriage and means for moving slices on said slice receiver, away from the cutting plane ofthe knife, includingA a lever member mounted' adjacent the slice receiver, and a slice engaging member'piv- Aoted to said lever member, and means tending normally. to rotate. said lever and to inove said slice engaging member against the slices positioned on the slice receiver.l

2. In combination with a slicing machine, including a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a carriage and means for guiding s it across the face of the knife, a slice receiver, positioned on the sidel of the knife opposite to the carriage and means for moving slices, while lying in generally vertical planes on said slice receiver, away from the cutting plane of the knife, including a lever mounted adjacent the slice receiver, a slice engaging member pivoted to one end of said lever, and means tending normally to urge said lever and slice engaging member against the slices positioned upon the slice receiver, and means for withdrawing said lever and slice engaging member from. the line of delivery of the successive slices, prior to their severance from the work.

3. In combination with a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it the axis -of rotation of the knife being normally fixed, a carriage and means for guiding it past the cutting edge of the knife, a V-shaped work support associated with said carriage, a V-shaped slice receiver positioned on the side of the knife opposite the carriage and adapted to receive and hold the slices in vertical position as they are cut, and means for movingsaid slices on said receiver, whilestill in vertical position, along a path generally perpendicular to the cutting -plane of the knife including a lever, yielding means tending normally to thrust one end of said lever against the slices on the slice receiver and means, responsive to the movement of the carriage, for holding said leverin inoperative position prior to the kdelivery of each successive slice to the slice receiver.

4L. In combination, a slicingmachine havingk a rotary knife and means forrotating it, the axis of rotation of the vknife being normally fixed, a carriage movable in relation to said knife and means for guiding it across the face of the knife, a slice receiving member positioned onlthe side of the knife opposite to the carriage, land extending outwardly and rearwardly from the cutting plane in general perpendicularity thereto, and means for moving slices, in generally upright position, rearwardly along said slice receiving member, including a lever mounted adjacent the, cutting plane, a spring normally tending to` move it into slice moving position, and means for holding said lever in inoperative position until the severing of the slice. n

Signed at Atlanta, county of Fulton and State of Georgia, this 30th day of August,

ABNER LEMU EL MILLIGAN. 

